Water users work toward solutions

In drought years, certain sections of the Scott River go dry by late summer and, inevitably, accusations fly about who or what is to blame, with groundwater pumping often the target. As a response to this controversy, local efforts are seeking to reduce the conflict between groundwater use and environmental needs.

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Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

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Posted Sep. 24, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Updated Sep 24, 2012 at 1:25 PM

Posted Sep. 24, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Updated Sep 24, 2012 at 1:25 PM

SCOTT VALLEY

In drought years, certain sections of the Scott River go dry by late summer and, inevitably, accusations fly about who or what is to blame, with groundwater pumping often the target. As a response to this controversy, local efforts are seeking to reduce the conflict between groundwater use and environmental needs.

According to a recent press release from the Scott River Watershed Council (SRWC), the Scott Valley community is taking a “Grab the bull by the horns” approach to tackle this long-running debate over groundwater’s effect on the surface flows of the Scott River.

As a key step toward better understanding of groundwater in the Scott Valley, the community has been collecting data on groundwater levels. Monthly measurements are made at 36 wells around the valley through a voluntary program that began in April 2006 led by a partnership effort. One of those partners, Dr. Thomas Harter of the Groundwater Cooperative Extension Program at the University of California at Davis (UCD), calls this groundwater level monitoring program “a significant cornerstone of Scott Valley’s groundwater management actions.”

According to the SRWC, this well data and some historic data has already helped answer a key question: Is the valley’s aquifer being overdrafted?

An overdraft condition is the continued decline in groundwater levels during years of normal precipitation and recharge.

Based on data collected so far, Harter says Scott Valley is not in an annual overdraft situation.

Understanding how groundwater affects surface water through a scientific approach is the goal of the Scott Valley Groundwater Study Plan, the release said.

Prepared with the help of UCD, the study plan is one of the tasks in the Scott Valley Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plan of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB).

The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors adopted the plan in February 2008. Included in the plan are hypotheses to be tested, including Scott Valley geologic and hydrologic conditions, how groundwater dynamics work, proposed research methods, and a “road map” of tasks to carry out the plan in three phases over a 20 year period, as funding is available.

According to the SRWC, “UCD has made significant progress on developing a sophisticated groundwater model, now in version two.”

Bryan McFadin, Senior Water Resource Control Engineer with the NCRWQCB, says that he thinks the Scott Valley Groundwater Study is going very well.

“The Regional Water Board expects that the groundwater model Dr. Harter is developing with the County and the community's assistance will be a powerful tool for evaluating opportunities to manage the resource to improve water quality and provide a reliable water supply,” says McFadin.

Page 2 of 2 - He adds, “The hydrology of Scott Valley is quite complex. Development of a tool to understand and manage a system this complicated can't be accomplished overnight.”

To help the county manage and coordinate its water resources, the board of supervisors created the Scott Valley Groundwater Advisory Committee in December, 2010 – the first one in the county. Its 11 appointed members represent various groundwater users in the valley. They’ve met monthly for a year and a half, advising the board and the UCD groundwater model team about crop acreage, irrigation methods and water application rates.

According to the release, “Growers in this small farming community use some of the most efficient and modern irrigation systems available for the alfalfa, pasture and grain crops grown in this mountain environment.”

“I feel I am going above the call of duty by volunteering to modernize my irrigation system for maximum efficiency at my own expense,” says Tom Menne, Scott Valley alfalfa grower. Menne has installed center pivot sprinklers to irrigate his alfalfa fields, replacing the less efficient wheel line sprinklers.

“I have 12 of these automated systems, which have increased my water efficiency by more than 20 percent,” Menne said.

Monitoring soil moisture helps ensure that farmers like Menne don’t over-irrigate, which could also add excessive costs to their operation due to the cost of electricity.

Menne, along with other farmers are cooperating in a detailed field study by UC Farm Advisor Steve Orloff and UCD irrigation specialists. Its intent is to gather data on actual water application rates by local growers and compare that with values based on weather instruments so the groundwater model is not based on theoretical values.

Scott Valley rancher and member of the groundwater advisory committee, Preston Harris said, “We have an opportunity to do some remarkable things to manage and enhance our groundwater in Scott Valley.”

He added, “The uniqueness of our watershed and the willingness of the Scott Valley community will make this possible. The partnerships we have developed with UC Davis, Siskiyou County, the Scott Valley Groundwater Advisory Committee, watershed council and government agencies will play a huge role as well. This is an exciting time in Scott Valley restoration.”